JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A local pastor and two men are facing sexual battery charges, accused of sexually and physically abusing minors for decades.
A video shows Pastor Paul Dyal years ago from what appears to be a religious service, but now the Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ pastor is behind bars.
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Dyal, along with Jerome Teschendorf and Vernon Williamson, are facing capital sexual battery charges after JSO said an investigation that started in 2020 revealed both long-term sexual and physical abuse of minors in the church that went on for decades.
A woman Action News Jax spoke with on Thursday said she was a victim of Dyal’s abuse.
“We went into the church around (age) 5, and I was around 7 when he first... decided to do what he did,” she said. “My parents got sent out of town to another church and I got put with him and his wife at his house and that first night I stayed he came in the bathroom when I was getting my bath.”
“This didn’t happen on one occasion it happened for the next 5-6 years around 5-6 times a year,” she said.
The victim and now-survivor said she filed a report in the late 90s and another report in 2003 that Action News Jax obtained, claiming sexual molestation against Dyal.
She says from there it went to being a cold case, until now.
Dyal’s arrest report shows that authorities booked him into jail from the same case number, documenting an incident that was reported almost 20 years ago.
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Action News Jax reached out to JSO about why it took so long to launch an investigation. We didn’t hear back by the time our story aired, but JSO has since sent us this response:
“The investigation into the case mentioned below continues to be an active investigation. Whether or not further suspects or victims are identified, will come by way of this continued investigation. The investigation leading to the arrest of the three suspects began in September of 2020. When further information has been made available, we will push it out.”
Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson once investigated sex crimes and said these types of arrests don’t always happen immediately.
“The State Attorney and the federal prosecutors if they are somehow involved, have to be able to prove this case to a jury without a reasonable doubt and if they can’t do that. They would be remiss in having someone arrested,” he said.
Action News Jax reached out to the church again today. We also emailed Dyal’s attorney for comment. Neither the church or the attorney got back to us by our deadline.
The victim in Dyal’s arrest says knowing he’s in jail brings some relief.
“Living with it and just knowing that all those years nobody would listen to me and he was free and now he’s actually in jail, it’s numb, surreal but some kind of a little bit of closure,” she said.
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Attorney Cynthia Crawford said there are other victims in the case of the three men arrested and represents several of them with more coming forward. She said that the case spans across multiple states other than just Florida and Oklahoma.
She sent us a statement that reads in part:
“Our clients provided information to law enforcement which revealed both long-term sexual and physical abuse of minors in the church spanning a period of over forty years. Many of the victims have been diminished, extorted and shut up. We rest easier now that their voices have been heard.”
Crawford said there will be a press conference on Monday, where they will address more of the situation and more victims plan to speak.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the website: https://rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-online-hotline.
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